The thought of the biggest poker tournament operators entering the state of Texas just one year ago was a pipe dream. But as the calendar shifts to 2026, it seems as if everyone is trying to get in on that Lone Star State poker action.
A big year for poker in the land of Longhorns and Cowboys appears to be on the horizon, thanks in no small part to some actions taken by local poker clubs in 2025. It all started with Texas Card House winning a major legal battle and Doug Polk's affiliation with ClubWPT Gold, which helped lead to the World Poker Tour (WPT) bringing the $1,100 buy-in WPT Prime Lodge Championship to Polk's The Lodge Card Club in the Austin area.